Shrewsbury businessman in the running for governor

AUBURN — A tea party Republican and small-business owner from Shrewsbury formally announced his candidacy for governor Monday evening.

Mark Fisher, the owner of Merchant's Fabrication in Auburn, referred to himself as "full-platform, no-excuses necessary, loyal and proud Republican" and blamed Democrats for issues facing the commonwealth.

"They own the problems," he said. "The Democratic stronghold has (taken) the breath out of Massachusetts."

Mr. Fisher said that, if he is elected, he will fight to remove tolls on the Massachusetts Turnpike. Even without tolls, he said, the turnpike "pays for itself" through revenue generated by billboards and rest stops.

Wearing a black suit and red tie, Mr. Fisher talked about the need to shrink government and decrease taxes.

One of his employees, Tim Stalmok, said at the event that he was not surprised to hear Mr. Fisher was running for office.

"He is passionate about the issues," he said. If elected, "I think he'll be able to make some real changes."

The event was held on the 240th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. Mr. Fisher said that while he was told he has little chance of winning the election as a member of the tea party in Massachusetts, he cited the Boston Massacre and other Revolutionary War events that occurred in the state.

"I see the original battleground state," he said. "I still believe there are patriots here in Massachusetts."

Mr. Fisher said if elected, he would veto any bill that increased taxes or restricted the Second Amendment for law-abiding citizens.

He criticized the governor for the increase in food stamp recipients during his time in office, and said he would work to "make illegal immigration illegal." He also said that Democrats like Vice President Joseph Biden have "re-enslaved people" though their policies.

Mr. Fisher said he would support eliminating the position of lieutenant governor, as well as the Governor's Council.

The candidate was introduced by William J. McCarthy, president of the Worcester County Republican Club, whom he turned to twice during his 30-minute speech for prompts.

Early this month, frontrunner Republican candidate Charles D. Baker announced another Shrewsbury Republican, Karyn E. Polito, as his running mate. Ms. Polito's campaign recently told the Boston Globe that she no longer opposes gay marriage, which could draw more social conservatives to support Mr. Fisher.

A spokesman for Mr. Baker's campaign declined to comment on Fisher's announcement.

In his first bid for public office, Mr. Fisher has invested $45,000 in his campaign, according to the state's Office of Campaign and Political Finance. According to the most recent OCPF report, which ran through November, Mr. Baker's campaign had a balance of more than $236,000.

A spokeswoman said that Mr. Fisher will run a grass-roots campaign and does not have a specific fundraising goal.